Method of removing filter from filter cap

ABSTRACT

A filter assembly includes a filter cap having a filter chamber defined therein. The filter cap includes a side wall having an opening defined therein. A fluid filter is positioned in the filter chamber. A spring-loaded detent button is movably secured to the filter cap and extends into the filter chamber. When the detent button is depressed by a user, the end of the detent button positioned in the filter chamber contacts the fluid filter thereby releasing the fluid filter from the filter cap. An associated method for replacing a fluid filter is also disclosed.

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/102,132 which was filed on Mar. 20, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No.6,770,196, and is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to filters for filtering fluids in a workapparatus such as an internal combustion engine, and more particularlyto an apparatus and method for releasing an filter assembly from afilter cap of a filter assembly.

Certain fluid filtering assemblies include a replaceable filter elementthat is housed within a housing that is secured to an internalcombustion engine. Typically, a bottom portion of the housing is securedto, or integral with, the engine block. A top portion of the housing, orfilter cap, is detachable from the bottom portion of the housing toallow the filter element to be replaced when it has met its usefulservice life.

One problem associated with the replacement of the filter element is theremoval of the filter element from the filter cap. For example, it isoften necessary to forcibly remove the filter element from the filtercap. Such forcible removal may be performed by hand or by a potentiallydestructive manner such as by the use of a screwdriver or pair ofpliers. Moreover, in certain cases where the filter element cannot bereadily removed from the filter cap, both the filter element and the capare discarded thereby frustrating certain of the advantages relating tothe use of an environmental filter (e.g., the reusability of the filtercap).

Such difficulty in the removal of the filter element also leads to othercomplications. For example, difficulty in the removal of the filterelement tends to cause undesirable fluid dispersion (e.g., oil spillage)during the removal process thereby necessitating cleanup of the workarea.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided a filter assembly having a housing with a fluid filterpositioned therein. The filter assembly includes an ejection mechanismfor ejecting the fluid filter from the housing.

In a more specific illustrative embodiment, there is provided an oilfiltering apparatus. The filtering apparatus includes a filter caphaving a filter chamber defined therein. The filter cap includes a sidewall having an opening defined therein. An oil filter is positioned inthe filter chamber. An actuator is movably secured to the filter cap. Aportion of the actuator extends through the opening into the filterchamber. In a specific implementation of this illustrative embodiment,the actuator is embodied as a spring-loaded detent button which issecured to the filter cap. When the detent button is depressed by auser, the end of the detent button positioned in the filter chambercontacts a center tube associated with the oil filter thereby ejectingor otherwise urging the center tube (and hence the filter elementsecured thereto) out of the filter cap.

In another specific exemplary embodiment, there is provided a centertube for use with an oil filter cap which has a detent button operableto release the center tube from the filter cap. The center tube includesa tube body having a number of orifices defined therein. A first end ofa post is secured to the tube body. The other end of the post isconfigured to be contacted by the detent button. In a specificimplementation of this exemplary embodiment, the post has aspheroid-shaped member defined therein. The spheroid-shaped member isconfigured to be contacted by the detent button when the detent buttonis depressed by a user.

In regard to another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method ofremoving an oil filter from a filter cap. The method includes the stepof moving an actuator which extends through a side wall of the filtercap so as to exert an ejection force on the oil filter. The method alsoincludes the step of moving the oil filter relative to the side wall inresponse to the ejection force being exerted on the oil filter.

In another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a filteringapparatus. The filtering apparatus includes a filter cap having a filterchamber defined therein and a fluid filter positioned in the filterchamber. An actuator is movably secured to the filter cap. The actuatoris operable to eject the fluid filter from the filter chamber.

The above and other features of the present disclosure will becomeapparent from the following description and the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figuresin which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a fluid filter assembly;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of an internal combustion engine whichhas an oil filter assembly secured to an engine block thereof;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the oil filter assembly ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is perspective view of the filter cap of the oil filter assemblyof FIGS. 2 and 3; and

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 5—5 of FIG. 2, asviewed in the direction of the arrows, note that the spheroid-shapedmember of the center tube is not shown in cross section for clarity ofdescription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a filter assembly 110. Thefilter assembly 110 includes a housing 112 having a fluid filter 114positioned therein. The fluid filter 114 may be any type of filter forfiltering or otherwise removing particles and debris from fluids. Forexample, the filter assembly 110 may be embodied as a fuel filterassembly, hydraulic filter assembly, air filter assembly, coolant filterassembly, or oil filter assembly.

The filter assembly 110 includes a filter ejection mechanism 116 forejecting the fluid filter 114 from the housing 112. The filter ejectionmechanism 116 may be embodied as an actuator, 118 which extends throughthe housing 112 such that, upon actuation thereof by a user, theactuator 118 causes the fluid filter 114 to be ejected or otherwiseremoved from the housing 112.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an exemplary embodiment of thefilter assembly 110, namely an oil filter assembly 10. The oil filterassembly 10 is secured to an engine block 12 of an internal combustionengine 16. A number of lag bolts 14 are utilized to secure the oilfilter assembly 10 to the engine block 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, the oil filter assembly 10 includes a housing 18, anoil filter 20, and a filter cap 22. In the illustrative embodimentdescribed herein, the oil filter 20 includes a center tube 24 and afilter element 26. However, it should be appreciated that otherembodiments of the oil filter 20 may be utilized in the presentinvention. For example, a filter having a consolidated tube and filterelement design may also be utilized in the present invention.

The oil filter 20 is positionable within a portion of the filter cap 22.Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the oil filter 20 may be releasablysecured within a filter chamber 28 defined in the filter cap 22. To doso, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the filter element 26 is first positionedaround the center tube 24. Specifically, the filter element 26 is formedto include a tube-receiving channel 32 into which a tube body 34 of thecenter tube 24 is received. As described below in greater detail, thecenter tube 24 is releasably secured to the filter cap 22. With the oilfilter 20 secured thereto, the filter cap 22 may then be screwed ontothe housing 18. In such an arrangement, the oil filter 20 is sealinglyhoused within the area defined by the filter chamber 28 and a secondfilter chamber 30 defined in the housing 18.

When the filter cap 22 (with the oil filter 20 secured thereto) issecured to the housing 18 in such a manner, engine oil is advancedthrough the oil filter 20 during operation of the internal combustionengine 16. Specifically, oil is advanced from the oil pan (not shown) ofthe engine 16 and into the filter chamber 30 of the housing 18 throughan inlet port (not shown) defined in the housing 18. Thereafter, theengine oil surrounds the oil filter 20 and is directed radially inwardthrough a filter medium 36 of the filter element 26 in a directiontoward the center tube 24. Such advancement of the oil through thefilter medium 36 of the filter element 26 removes contaminants and otherimpurities from the oil.

After the oil has been advanced through the filter medium 36, the oilflows through a number of orifices 38 defined in the tube body 34 of thecenter tube 24 and into a central passageway 40 of the center tube 24.Once inside the central passageway 40, the oil is advanced through anoutlet port (not shown) of the housing 18 and is thereafter routed backto the engine 16. As shown in FIG. 5, a filter seal 42 may be utilizedto seal the oil filter 20 to the housing 18 thereby preventing oil whichhas not been advanced through the filter medium 36 of the filter element26 from being advanced back to the engine 16. Hence, as described,engine oil pumped through the oil filter assembly 10 is effectivelycleaned during operation of the engine 16.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the filter cap 22 has a filter ejectionmechanism 44 associated therewith. In an exemplary embodiment, thefilter ejection mechanism 44 is embodied as an actuator 46 which extendsthrough an opening 48 defined in a side wall 50 into the filter chamber28 of the filter cap 22. As will be described below in greater detail,the actuator 46 is positionable between an actuated position in whichthe actuator 46 causes ejection or otherwise allows for release of theoil filter 20 from the filter cap 22 and a non-actuated position inwhich the actuator 46 does not facilitate removal of the oil filter 20from the filter cap 22. The actuator 46 may be embodied as any number ofdifferent mechanisms which may be utilized to exert a force on the oilfilter 20 positioned in the filter chamber 28.

In a specific implementation of this exemplary embodiment, the actuator46 is embodied as a threadless spring-loaded detent button 52. As shownin FIG. 5, one end portion 54 of the detent button 52 is positioned inthe filter chamber 28, whereas the other end portion 56 of the detentbutton 52 extends out of the opening 48 and is positioned outside of thefilter chamber 28. As also shown in FIG. 5, a seal such as an O-ring 64may be utilized to seal the detent button 52 to the filter cap 22thereby preventing oil from leaking through the opening 48. A biasingspring 58 may be utilized to maintain the detent button 52 in itsnon-actuated position. In particular, the biasing spring 58 exerts abias on the detent button 52 so as to urge the detent button 52 in adirection away from the oil filter 20 (i.e., in the general direction ofarrow 60 of FIG. 5). However, when a user depresses the detent button 52(i.e., exerts a force on the end portion 56 of the detent button 52 inthe general direction of arrow 62 of FIG. 5), the bias of the spring 58is overcome and the detent button 52 is urged in a direction toward theoil filter 20 (i.e., in the general direction of arrow 62 of FIG. 5). Aswill be described below, such movement of the detent button 52 positionsthe detent button 52 in its actuated position thereby causing ejectionor otherwise allowing for removal of the oil filter 20 from the filterchamber 28 of the filter cap 22.

It should be appreciated that when positioned in its non-actuatedposition (as depicted in FIG. 5), the detent button 52 may be physicallyspaced apart from the oil filter 20. In such a case, the detent button52 does not contact the oil filter 20 until the detent button 52 ismoved into contact with the oil filter 20 by depression thereof by theuser. Alternatively, the detent button 52 may physically contact the oilfilter 20 when the button 52 is positioned in its non-actuated position.In such a configuration, the spring bias exerted on the detent button 52by the spring 58 does not eject the oil filter 20 from the filter cap 22prior to external actuation of the detent button 52 by a user.

The detent button 52 may be configured to exert force on any componentor feature associated with the oil filter 20 in order to release thefilter 20 from the filter chamber 28. For example, the detent button maybe configured to exert force on the center tube 24 (in the case in whichboth the center tube 24 and filter element 26 are removable from thefilter cap 22). Alternatively, in the case in which the center tube 24is not removable from the filter cap 22, the detent button may beconfigured to exert force on the filter element 26 in order to eject thefilter element 26 from the filter cap 22.

For purposes of clarity, the case in which both the center tube 24 andthe filter element 26 are removable from the filter cap 22 will hereinbe described in detail. As such, the center tube 24 of the oil filter 20is configured to include a feature on which the detent button 52 maybear during depression of the button 52 by the user. In particular, asshown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the center tube 24 has a post 66 extendingtherefrom. Preferably, the post 66 is integrally molded with the tubebody 34. However, the post 66 may alternatively be provided as aseparate component which is secured to the tube body 34.

As shown in FIG. 5, the post 66 has a spheroid-shaped member 68 definedtherein. The detent button 52 is configured to contact thespheroid-shaped member 68 when the detent button 52 is depressed by auser. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the end portion 54 of the detentbutton 52 has an arcuate surface 70 defined therein. The arcuate surface70 substantially conforms to the outer surface of the spheroid-member68. As such, the force generated by the user depressing the detentbutton 52 may be effectively transferred to the spheroid-member 68 andhence the center tube 24.

It should be appreciated that the post 66 may be alternativelyconfigured with features other than the spheroid-shaped member 68. Forexample, the post 66 may have a relatively thin, flat, circular-shapedmember (e.g. a “puck”) defined therein. Alternatively, numerous othergeometric shapes may also be utilized in the construction of the post66.

As shown in FIG. 5, the post 66 is selectively captured or otherwiseretained by a filter retainer 72 associated with the filter cap 22. Thefilter retainer 72 is operable to releasably secure the oil filter 20 tothe filter cap 22. As such, the filter retainer 72 may be embodied asany type of mechanism which is operable to releasably secure the oilfilter 20 to the filter cap 22. For example, the filter retainer 72 maybe embodied as a number of flanges or fingers, a cavity for receiving asnap-fit member, a number of adhesive or interlocking material strips,or any other type of retaining mechanism. In one exemplary embodiment,the filter retainer 72 is embodied as a number of cantilevered springarms 76 which are secured at one end to the inner surface of the sidewall 50 so as to extend inwardly into the filter chamber 28 from theside wall 50.

The filter retainer 72 is positionable in either a retention position ora release position. When the filter retainer 72 is positioned in itsretention position, the spheroid-shaped member 68 of the post 66 isretained or otherwise secured in the filter chamber 28 by the retainer72. Alternatively, when the filter retainer 72 is positioned in itsrelease position, the spheroid-shaped member 68 (and hence the centertube 24) is freely movable relative to the filter cap 22, and, as such,may be ejected or otherwise removed from the filter chamber 28.

In the specific exemplary embodiment in which the retainer 72 isembodied as a plurality of spring arms 76, the spring arms 76 may bedeflected or otherwise moved between their respective release positionsand retention positions. The spring arms 76 are depicted in theirrespective retention positions in FIG. 5. If the movable end portions 78of the spring arms 76 are deflected or otherwise moved away from oneanother (i.e., in a radially outward direction indicated by arrows 80 ofFIG. 5) so as to be positioned in their respective release positions,the spheroid-shaped member 66 is freely movable through a gap 82 definedby the area between the spring arms 76 (see FIG. 4).

In order to create such movement of the spring arms 76, each of thespring arms 76 has a pair of cam surfaces 84, 86 defined therein.Advancement of the spheroid-member 68 of the post 66 into contact withthe cam surfaces 84, 86 causes movement of the spring arms 76 betweentheir respective release positions and retention positions. Inparticular, during insertion of the oil filter 20 into the filterchamber 28 (i.e., movement of the filter 20 in the general direction ofarrow 60 of FIG. 5), the spheroid-shaped member 68 is advanced intocontact with the cam surfaces 84 of the spring arms 76 thereby urgingthe spring arms 76 outwardly in a direction away from one another (i.e.,in the general direction of arrows 80 of FIG. 5). Once thespheroid-shaped member is advanced beyond the end of the cam surface 84,the spring arms 76 “spring back” or are otherwise moved inwardly in adirection toward one another (i.e., in the general direction of arrows82 of FIG. 5) thereby capturing the spheroid-shaped member 66therebetween.

Conversely, during removal (e.g., ejection) of the oil filter 20 fromthe filter chamber 28 (i.e., movement of the filter 20 in the generaldirection of arrow 62 of FIG. 5), the spheroid-shaped member 68 isadvanced into contact with the cam surfaces 86 of the spring arms 76thereby urging the spring arms outwardly in a direction away from oneanother (i.e., in the general direction of arrows 80 of FIG. 5). Oncethe spheroid-shaped member 68 is advanced beyond the end of the camsurface 86, the spring arms 76 “spring back” or are otherwise movedinwardly in a direction toward one another (i.e., in the generaldirection of arrows 82 of FIG. 5). Moreover, once the spheroid-shapedmember 68 is advanced beyond the end of the cam surface 86, the centertube 24 (and hence the filter element 26 secured thereto) is freelymovable relative to the filter cap 22, and, as a result, may be ejectedtherefrom.

In operation, the oil filter assembly 10 provides for quick and easyreplacement of the oil filter 20. To do so, the filter cap 22 is firstunscrewed from the housing 22. Once removed from the housing 22, thefilter cap 22, with the oil filter 20 secured thereto, is then held overan approved disposal container and the detent button 52 depressed inorder to eject the oil filter 20. Specifically, as described in detailabove, when a user depresses the detent button 52, the center tube 24(and hence the filter element 26 secured thereto) is freely movablerelative to the filter cap 22. As such, if the filter cap 22 is held inan orientation in which the detent button 52 is positioned upwardly, thecenter tube 24 and the filter element 26 will fall freely from thefilter cap 22 when the user depresses the detent button.

Once the oil filter 20 to be replaced has been removed, a new oil filter20 may be installed. Specifically, once removed from the filter cap 22,the user may slide the filter element 26 off of the center tube 24 inorder to discard the filter element 26 while allowing the center tube 24to be reused. Alternatively, both the center tube. 24 and the filterelement 26 may be discarded, particularly in the case of when the centertube 24 and the filter element 26 are provided as a consolidatedcomponent. In any case, the replacement center tube 24 and filterelement 26 are then secured to the filter cap 22. Thereafter, the filtercap 22 is screwed back onto the housing 22 thereby completing the filterreplacement procedure.

While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific exemplary embodiments thereof have beenshown by way of example in the drawings and has herein be described indetail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent tolimit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on thecontrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, andalternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

There are a plurality of advantages of the present disclosure arisingfrom the various features of the apparatus and methods described herein.It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the apparatus andmethods of the present disclosure may not include all of the featuresdescribed yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of suchfeatures. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise theirown implementations of an apparatus and method that incorporate one ormore of the features of the present disclosure and fall within thespirit and scope of the present disclosure.

1. A method of removing an oil filter from a filter cap, the oil filterbeing configured to remove impurities from oil upon passage of the oilthrough the oil filter comprising the steps of: removing from a housingof an oil filter assembly said filter cap with said oil filter securedto said filter cap; moving an actuator which extends through a side wallof said filter cap so as to exert a force on said oil filter afterremoval of said filter; and moving said oil filter relative to said sidewall in response to said force being exerted on said oil filter.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein: said filter cap has a filter chamber definedtherein, said oil filter is positioned in said filter chamber, saidactuator comprises a detent button having a first end which ispositioned in said filter chamber and a second end which extends out ofan opening defined in said side wall, and said step of moving saidactuator comprises moving said detent button so as to exert said forceon said oil filter with said detent button.
 3. The method of claim 2,wherein said step of moving said oil filter comprises ejecting said oilfilter from said filter chamber in response to said force being exertedon said oil filter by said detent button.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein said filter cap has a filter retainer secured thereto, furthercomprising the step of: moving said filter retainer relative to saidside wall from a retention position in which said filter retainerretains said oil filter to a release position in which said oil filteris movable relative to said filter cap in response to said force beingexerted on said oil filter.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein: said oilfilter has a post extending therefrom; said post having aspheroid-shaped member defined thereon; said step of moving said oilfilter comprises exerting said force on said spheroid-shaped member; andsaid step of moving said filter retainer comprises moving said filterretainer relative to said side wall from the retention position in whichsaid filter retainer retains said spheroid-shaped member to the releaseposition in which said spheroid-shaped member is movable relative tosaid filter cap in response to said force being exerted on saidspheroid-shaped member.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein: said oilfilter has a post extending therefrom; said post has a spheroid-shapedmember defined therein; and said step of moving said actuator comprisesmoving said actuator against said spheroid-shaped member so as to exertsaid force on said spheroid-shaped member.
 7. The method of claim 6,wherein: said actuator comprises a detent button; and said step ofmoving said actuator comprises moving said detent button against saidspheroid-shaped member.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein: said detentbutton comprises a concave surface; said spheroid-shaped membercomprises a convex surface; and said step of moving said detent buttoncomprises moving said concave surface against said convex surface. 9.The method of claim 1, wherein: said actuator comprises a detent button;and said step of moving said actuator comprises moving said detentbutton against a spring.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising astep of said spring acting against a shoulder of said detent button soas to urge said shoulder away from said oil filter into contact withsaid side wall.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein said actuatorcomprises a detent button, further comprising the step of establishing aseal around said detent button with an O-ring.
 12. The method of claim1, wherein: said actuator comprises a threadless detent button; and saidstep of moving said actuator comprises moving said threadless detentbutton through an opening defined in said side wall.
 13. A method ofremoving an oil filter from a filter cap, said oil filter having a postextending therefrom, said filter cap having a plurality of spring armssecured thereto, comprising the steps of: moving an actuator whichextends through a side wall of said filter cap so as to exert a force onsaid oil filter; moving said oil filter relative to said side wall inresponse to said force being exerted on said oil filter; and moving eachof said plurality of spring arms from a retention position in which saidplurality of spring arms cooperate to retain said post to a releaseposition in which said post is movable relative to said filter cap inresponse to said force being exerted on said oil filter.
 14. The methodof claim 13, wherein said step of moving said actuator comprises movingsaid actuator into contact with said post so as to exert said force onsaid post.
 15. A method of removing an oil filter from a filter cap,said oil filter having a post extending therefrom, said filter caphaving a plurality of spring arms secured thereto, said post having aspheroid-shaped member defined thereon, comprising the steps of: movingan actuator which extends through a side wall of said filter cap so asto exert a force on said oil filter; urging said spheroid-shaped memberinto contact with each of said plurality of spring arms; and moving eachof said plurality of spring arms from a retention position in which saidplurality of spring arms cooperate to retain said spheroid-shaped memberto a release position in which said post is movable relative to saidfilter cap in response to said urging step.
 16. The method of claim 15,wherein said step of moving said actuator comprises moving said actuatorinto contact with said spheroid-shaped member so as to exert said forceon said spheroid-shaped member.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein saidurging step comprises urging said spheroid-shaped member into contactwith each of said plurality of spring arms in response to movement ofsaid actuator into contact with said spheroid-shaped member.